Reviewed and updated October 12, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. Every fact on this page was read from the California DMV's own pages that day, and the DMV page each fact came from is linked where it appears.
The California AB 60 driver's license: who it is for, the nine steps the DMV lays out from the eligibility checklist to the card in the mail, the knowledge test in more than 40 languages, the Secondary Review, and the fee. The standard license path is on the driver's license guide, the permit on the learner's permit guide, and the rules for temporary legal presence on the limited-term license guide.
In this guide: Who the AB 60 license is for, The nine steps, The fee, After the license, Questions about the AB 60 license
Who the AB 60 license is for
The DMV's AB 60 page describes the license as one for individuals who are unable to provide proof of legal presence in the United States, but who meet the DMV's requirements and can provide proof of identity and California residency. The DMV's driver's license page adds that an AB 60 applicant cannot be issued a REAL ID compliant card, and that a person whose legal presence has lapsed can convert a standard license to an AB 60 license.
The nine steps
| Step | What the DMV says |
|---|---|
| 1. Check your eligibility | Use the DMV's AB 60 Checklist to see whether you have all the documents to qualify. An applicant aged 15 to 17½ must complete a driver education course. |
| 2. Complete the application | Complete the driver's license application; a MyDMV account lets you start it online. |
| 3. Pass the knowledge test | Available in more than 40 languages; study the Driver's Handbook, also in multiple languages, and schedule an appointment to take the test at a DMV office. |
| 4. Gather your documents | Bring the correct proof of identity and residency to the appointment. Without the correct documents a Secondary Review is required. |
| 5. Schedule the DMV appointment | Book the appointment to finish the application. For an interpreter, call 1-800-777-0133. |
| 6. Arrive for the appointment | Go to the Start Here window. |
| 7. Secondary Review, if needed | If you could not provide acceptable documents, the Secondary Review verifies your identity and residency. |
| 8. Behind-the-wheel driving test | Schedule the driving test appointment online or by calling 1-800-777-0133. If you went through the Secondary Review, complete that interview first. |
| 9. Receive the license | The DMV mails the license. |
The Secondary Review is described on the DMV's referral process page; appointments are booked on its appointment page.
The fee
The DMV's fee schedule lists an original Class C driver's license at $46, nonrefundable, with the application and fee valid for 12 months; the fee covers three attempts at each knowledge test and three at the driving test, and a repeat driving test is $9. Every fee is on the California DMV fees page.
After the license
The DMV's page closes with the same advice it gives every new driver: with a MyDMV account most business can be done online and on a phone; renew the registration every year and keep up with smog certifications if you have a vehicle; and renew the license every 5 years. Those steps are on the registration renewal guide and the license renewal guide.
Questions about the AB 60 license
Can an AB 60 license be a REAL ID?
No. The DMV's driver's license page states that people applying under AB 60 cannot be issued a REAL ID compliant card.
What languages is the knowledge test in?
The DMV says the knowledge test is available in more than 40 languages and the Driver's Handbook in multiple languages. An interpreter for the appointment is arranged by calling 1-800-777-0133.
What is the Secondary Review?
The DMV's process for verifying identity and residency when an applicant could not provide acceptable documents. The driving test comes after the Secondary Review interview.
Can a teenager apply?
The DMV's checklist step says a driver education course must be completed by an applicant aged 15 to 17½.
Written by SearchSystems.net from the California DMV's AB 60 page, driver's license page and licensing fees page, read on October 12, 2026.